Safety appliance for swimming-pools.



v Patented Dec..|'0, |90I.= J. n. Younger-: Y SAFETY A PPLIANCE FOB SWIMMING FOOLS.

l(Application led Mar. 23, 1901.)

(No-Model.)

UNITED STATES Pirrnn'r Creme.

JOHN R. YOUREE, OF PRAIRIEGROVE, ARKANSAS.

SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR SWIMMING-POOLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,569, dated December 10, 1901. Appleman tied March 2s, 1901. serai No. 52,58'0. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: 4

Be it known that I, JOHN R. YOUREE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Prairiegrove, in the county of Washington and State of Arkansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Safety Appliances for Swimming-Pools, of which the following is a speciication.

My invention relates to safety appliances or apparatus for swimming-pools; and the object is to provide an improved device of the character named which will sustain the body of the swimmer in a natural position for swimming in the bath or pool, and, further, to provide means whereby the person so sustained may progress in the pool without hindrance.

I accomplish the objects above mentioned in the construction to be more fully described in the following description, and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

I have fully and clearly illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings,where- 1n- Figure 1 is a plan view of a swimming-pool having my improved safety appliance attached thereto, and Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the supporting-standard and safety appliance.

In the drawings, 1 designates a tank or pool of such dimensions as to best suit it for the purposes intended and preferably circular in contour. Within this pool 1 and at the center thereof is erected or situated a stand or platform 2, preferably circular in form and adapted to serve as a resting-place for the swimmers or a stand for the Overseer or instructor of pupils. About the circumference of this stand or platform 2 are arranged standards or uprights 3 of such height and at such an interval from each other as to best serve the purposes for which they are intended, substantially as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Projecting from each of these uprights 3 and overhanging the tank or raceway is a laterally-extended arm 4 of such length that the free end thereof will be substantially in a vertical line with the middle of the course in the tank.

Secured to a depending projection 5 on the arm 4 of the standards 3 is suitably secured the rail of a single circular track 6, upon which is adapted to rest and travel a grooved sheave or sheaves '7, said'sheave or sheaves 5 5 being journaled within a Asuitable frame or housing 8. Depending from one side of this housing or frame 8 is an arm 9, having its free end formed with a hook or other suitable fastening means 10, said hook being formed Edo@ to hang in a vertical line with the rail of the track 6.

Suitably and detachably secured to the hook 10 is a support or hanger which consists, preferably, of a spiral spring 11, which which is adapted to pass about the bodyl of 75 the swimmer and be secured therein any suitable manner.

In order that the sheave or sheaves 7 and housing 8 will be securely held in position upon the rail 6, I provide the following means: 8o

Upon the projecting arm 4, ata sufficient distanceY from the rail 6 to permit the unobstructed movement of the sheave or sheaves 7 on the rail, is a vertical standard 1G, having horizontal overhanging extensions 17, formed with a depending end portion 18, substantially as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Suitably secured to the inner faces of the vertical standard 16 and depending portion 18 are circular keepers or guide-rails 19, which'V 9o are a sufficient distance from the housing 8 to permit the free movement thereof, but which will prevent the said sheave or sheaves and housing from being displaced.

It is seen from the above description, taken in connection with the drawings, that I provide an improved means by which those learning to swim and those unskilled in the exercise may perfect themselves without danger Within this loop 7o and that the free movement of the limbs or Ico the progress of the swimmer is in no way retarded.

In the drawings I have shown my invention in its preferred form; but it is obvious that the track and guide rails may be supported in any approved manner, either from above or below, and that such change or alteration Would not deviate from the gist of my invention.

I claiml. In a device of the character described the combination with a suitable supportingstandard, havingaprojecting arm, of a trackrail secured to the arm, a sheave to travel on the said track-rail, a housing in which the sheave is j ournaled,resilient body-supporting means connected to the housing, and means to prevent the displacement of the sheave from its track-rail consisting of a vertical standard on the arm of the supporting-standard, having an overhanging end and depending portion, and guide-rails secured to the vertical standard.

2. In a device of the character described the combination with a supporting-standard having a projecting arm, of a track-rail secured to the arm, a sheave or wheel to travel on the track-rail, a housing in which the sheave is Iiournaled, a hook depending from the housing, a resilient body supporting means connected to the hook, a vertical standard on the arm of the supporting-standard, said vertical standard being provided with an overhanging end depending portion and guide-rails secured to the vertical standard and the depending portion thereof.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

. JOHN R. YOUREE;

Witnesses:

A. T. STRICKLER', J. L. STRICKLER. 

